Best noise-canceling headphones 2025

Whether you're preparing for a long study session or an even longer flight, the best noise-cancelling headphones can be very useful in today's noisy world. Headphones with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) can range from budget-friendly on-ear models to $1,000 beasts of premium audio technology. Whatever you're looking for in a pair of headphones, I've handpicked six stellar models that should meet all of your noise-cancelling needs.

As with our list of the top wireless headphones for Android devices overall, the Sony WH-1000XM5 easily take the top spot as my #1 favorite cans for noise cancellation. Sure, a newer generation has been released, but until we're able to review the Sony XM6 at length, the XM5 are the clear winners (plus they're typically much cheaper). That said, they're far from the only great option available, so keep reading for all of my favorite noise-cancelling headphones on the market today.

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At a glance

Best overall

The Sony WH-1000XM5 have been in the top spot for some time based on our own review. That is likely to change if the newer WH-1000XM6 meets our expectations as a step up in earning the industry benchmark, forcing others to catch up. Part of what makes the XM5 so good is the unique QN1 processor and a dual-noise sensor that work together to block out ambient sound. While the newer XM6 are set to take that to the next level, they are based on what's already on offer here. There are eight microphones at work, so for a daily commute on a bus or train, walking on a busy street, or sitting on a flight, the WH-10000XM5 are up to the task.

They may not look dramatically different from their predecessors, but there are enough differences that still fall within Sony's comfortable design for most ears. ANC benefits from that with excellent passive isolation, plus you can pair with two devices simultaneously. This way, you can listen to music on one device and take calls on another, for example. Phone calls also sound better because Sony's Precise Voice Pickup and Speak to Chat features optimize sound and volume during conversations.

They will last up to 30 hours per charge, with fast charging always an option when they're dead. You still can't listen to the WH-1000XM5 when they're charging, however, whether wired or wireless.

Sony chose not to tweak or alter the sound signature, so the same bass-heavy sound comes through. It can sometimes drown out the mids and highs, but Sony's Connect app has a trusty equalizer you can use to offset that. It also has a "clear bass" slider to affect the overall thump of the bass itself. With those tools, you can make these headphones sound more to your preference.

Best budget

The SonoFlow Pro HQ51 follow up from the previous SonoFlow and find ways to do more for the same money. These are impressive cans that are comfortable to wear for long periods, and 1More includes a case to keep them safe and transportable.

If you care about codecs, you'll like that the SonoFlow support the LDAC codec for hi-res audio, though 1More makes a bigger deal out of the new 40mm diamond-like carbon drivers. They're right to because they produce better overall sound, not just out of the box, but especially when you tune the sound how you want in the 1More Music app.

Active noise cancelation (ANC) is solid for headphones at this price, and one of the key reasons why they made the cut. They do a consistently good job drowning out background noise, with particular strength in muffling low-frequency sounds. Another helpful aspect comes from the excellent passive isolation from the snug fit. Plug the cable in to listen in wired mode, except you lose out on the other features (ANC, EQ, etc.), treating the headphones as standard analog cans.

Battery life reaches ridiculous territory at up to 100 hours with ANC off, and 65 hours with it on. A quick five-minute charge could get you up to 10 hours of playback, depending on volume levels.

Best battery life

Cleer Audio may not be the household name others are on this list, but the Enduro ANC are the kind of headphones that make you remember who they are. The long battery life certainly stands out, giving you up to 60 hours on a single charge. They also feel comfortable for longer stretches, complementing the outstanding battery performance. Plus, if you need a quick charge, plug them in for five minutes and you can get up to two hours of playback.

Sound quality may also come as a surprise, and the best part is you can tinker with it through the Cleer+ app. The onboard equalizer lets you ramp up or dial back the bass, along with the other parts of the spectrum to get these headphones playing even better. ANC performance is pretty good, and even when on, battery life doesn't take a huge hit. You'll find they cancel noise out best on a plane, train, or bus.

They're also nifty in other ways, like multipoint connections to pair with two devices simultaneously, and wired playback through the included 3.5mm cable and airplane adapter. Cleer Audio also throws in a case to keep the headphones safe.

Best premium

Bowers & Wilkins is a luxury brand, and its products come with the expectation of looking good. The PX8 are easy to look at, even if you don't consider yourself the type to put design over all else. And it doesn't matter if it's the black or tan variant — they exude class.

On top of the slick aesthetic, they also come with a pretty unique feature set. One standout is the ability to use the headphone's USB-C port for audio. So just plug them into your phone's USB-C port, and not only will you get audio, but power as well. A 3.5mm cable also comes in the box.

The PX8 are a sonic powerhouse in so many ways. It's not just the balanced sound signature that plays well with every genre, the sound is spacious and pronounced, where instruments and vocals feel warm, resonant, and full. It wouldn't be a stretch to say these may be the headphones to beat from a purely audio perspective. You do have to pay a hefty price for them though.

Improved ANC helps muffle background noise, but they're not quite at the level of Sony and Bose yet. At this price range, you could expect better results, and on the bright side, the soft cushioning and superb fit help with effective passive isolation. The Bowers & Wilkins app offers limited customization, however, as you can't adjust the range of ANC, while the EQ is limited to just bass and treble sliders.

Battery life is solid, with up to 30 hours per charge. The USB-C port is always convenient, as is the fast charging support. If the PX8 are dead, a 15-minute charge will get you a good seven hours of listening time.

Best modularity

Dyson has always been synonymous with its unique design, which is partly what's made its products such standouts. Headphones are a different game, even if the OnTrac aren't the company's first attempt at making a pair of over-ear cans. The most notable design trait is the modularity involved, which we highlight in our review, meaning you can swap out the ear cups and outer caps to change up the color scheme or replace them over time.

The larger cups do a nice job forging a cocoon for your ears to help deliver some passive noise isolation. Turn on the ANC and you can block out or dampen a wide range of frequencies. Even more unique is the way the MyDyson app shows you the very frequencies it's canceling out in real time.

Even better, the OnTrac produce great sound quality, with crisp instruments and vocals shining through every track. There's also plenty of bass, though you can always add more with the bass booster in the app. Just too bad you can't set up your own EQ presets because there's no option for that.

As comfortable as they are to wear, they're also heavier than most headphones, so longer periods may feel a little weighted after a while. That matters when battery life can go up to 55 hours at default volume levels with ANC on. You won't have to charge these as often, though it does take three hours to fully recharge them.

Best earbuds

The WF-1000XM5 take all the good stuff from their predecessors and make it even better. They benefit from the same ANC tech found in Sony's over-ear WH-1000XM5, which is a big reason why they're so effective. With slimmer bodies, they also fit better this time around, ensuring that a greater subset of ears can enjoy what they have to offer without worrying about comfort.

The tighter fit helps passively flush out some of the background noise, while the outstanding ANC does wonders for stamping out those noises for serenity as you listen to your content. Adaptive Sound Control is getting better when you tell it when you want more noise cancelation (the gym, commuting) and where you might want more transparency (office, home). They're not as rugged as other earbuds, so you need to be careful when using them at the gym or out for a run.

Sony also equipped the WF-1000XM5 with new drivers that balance out the soundstage with a more subdued bass response. If you're expecting a big boom, you won't get it out of the box, but you can always find it through the equalizer settings in the Headphones Connect app.

Battery life is solid at up to eight hours per charge, and an additional 16 hours with their charging case, which is smaller than the previous one was. The USB-C port is convenient, as is the fast charging ability. A quick 15-minute charge can provide a few hours of playback in a pinch.

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How to choose

One thing about headphones and earbuds is that as much as sound improves, noise cancelation is often part of that evolution. It used to be that the audible hiss that helped block out background noise also affected audio quality, but that hasn't been the case for years now that active noise cancelation works much quieter. Hence, good active noise cancelation correlates far more with better sound these days.

The reasons are obvious: isolate sound to your ears and you hear more of you want to hear. Simply having ANC doesn't necessarily mean headphones will block all sounds, so the differences come down to variances. Some headphones will drown out more ambient noise than others will. You may notice more premium pairs do better at that than more affordable pairs do. So, if you really care about blocking as much of the background as possible, you'll have to keep that in mind.

Bear in mind that fit and comfort play a big role too. If the ear cups cover your ears, the passive isolation helps the ANC do its job. Same goes for wireless earbuds nestled into your ears. If the headphones or earbuds work with dedicated apps to control the strength of the noise cancelation, then you may find additional benefits from that. Some may even have "adaptive ANC", which adjusts the potency in real time based on how much noise the onboard microphones detect. These features are generally available in the most premium pairs.

How we test

Testing noise cancelation on headphones at Android Central requires is very much a methodical approach. The best part about it is that it's an easier thing to test when applying it to daily life. We don't focus on where things stand in a graph or chart, but rather how well each pair snuffs out the ambient noise we're generally exposed to.

Consider how much they drown out background noise during a commute to work. How much are you likely to hear the droning sounds of a plane, train, or bus? At the office, do they remove background chatter to help you stay focused? Working from home, can they muffle the sounds of screaming kids?

Active noise cancelation is readily available in headphones today — including cheaper ones — except the results can vary pretty widely. Some may be better than others at keeping out lower frequencies, though the best in the business more capably handle tougher high frequency noises as well.

Testing for these details is equally as important as understanding whether or not ANC adversely affects audio playback. We always check companion apps to gauge those offering adaptive or personalized settings. Noting the distinct differences throughout the testing process helps us make solid determinations on what to expect.

Get rid of that noise

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The headphone jack has pulled a disappearing act for the last couple of years, putting the onus on wireless Bluetooth headphones to keep the audio flowing to your ears.

If you're willing to pay the price, Sony's WH-1000XM5 are the best noise-canceling headphones you can get right now. They're fully loaded with fantastic noise-canceling technology, great sound, long battery life, handy controls, and a comfortable fit. Unfortunately, finding great wireless headphones or wireless earbuds with equally good ANC performance isn't as easy as it may seem, despite how ubiquitous the feature is now becoming.

What makes Sony's pair even better is that the ANC supports everything else that's good about the WH-1000XM5. They may not sound all that different from their predecessors, except phone calls are better, as is any average commute once you drown out all that background chatter and dull noise.